David Chase at the Emmys

That shy, press-averse David Chase of “The Sopranos” managed the night’s most political statement: accepting the award for best drama series, he riffed about gangsters being people, too.

“In essence, this is a story about a gangster. And gangsters are out there taking their kids to college, and taking their kids to school, and putting food on their table. And, hell, let’s face it, if the world and this nation was run by gangsters –(beat)— maybe it is.”

Joanne Ostrow has been watching TV since before "reality" required quotation marks. "Hill Street Blues" was life-changing. If Dickens, Twain or Agatha Christie were alive today, they'd be writing for television. And proud of it.